NEW YORK, UN, (SANA) – Syria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Dr. Bashar al-Jaafari, said that President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela preserved his country’s independence and his people’s freedom, and he stood in face of all hegemony attempts.

As the UN General Assembly met on Wednesday to pay tribute to the memory of the late President of Venezuela, al-Jaafari added that the late leader managed to guarantee the sovereignty of Venezuela and prevented foreign interference, and he supported the freedom of peoples and social justice and stood against occupation, foreign invasion and oppression.

al-Jaafari noted that Syria will always remember President Chavez and appreciate his stance on the cause of the occupied Syrian Golan and his support to Syria against terrorism.